Tuesday, June 6, 2023 is a historic date in the world of golf.
The world's three largest golf tours, which have previously been at open war with each other, have agreed to a joint agreement that will see the PGA Tour, the LIV Tour and the European Tour work together.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has repeatedly criticized Saudi Arabia's new golf project since the start of the LIV Tour in 2022.
Barely a year later, Monahan's tone is completely different and the criticism has not been long in coming.
"What hypocrisy, suppose money always wins"
"Can anyone tell me how Jay Monahan basically became the head of the entire golf world by not standing for anything he's said for the last two years? What hypocrisy, assuming money always wins," American golfer Dylan Wu wrote on Twitter.
Dylan Wu's compatriot Wesley Bryan is not happy either.
"I feel betrayed and will not be able to trust anyone in the PGA Tour for a very long time," Bryan wrote.
The PGA commissioner, following Tuesday's announcement, has had a meeting with the players at the toru. He himself describes the meeting as "intense and definitely excited" and at a press conference he says:
"I understand the criticism and that people call me a hypocrite, but the conditions have changed. The reason we have ended up here is because we are now looking at it from a broader perspective, says Monahan at a press conference and continues:
"I don't think it's sustainable that we have tensions in golf and now we can instead organize ourselves in a way where we (the PGA Tour) have control with a world-class investor behind us.
Monahan said the players who remained loyal to the PGA Tour and previously rejected the LIV Tour did the right thing.
"I am convinced that those players made the right decision. They helped build the future of the PGA Tour and made us more competitive.
Three questions about: What does the announcement from the LIV Tour and PGA Tour mean?
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Golf expert on unexpected golf move: "Men's golf is now owned by Saudi Arabia" Photo: Bildbyrån/SVT